Automatic labeling apparatus



y 1955 E. E. MESSMER ETAL 3,193,430

AUTOMATIC LABELING APPARATUS Filed April 11. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS J EDWIN E. MESSMER BY NORM AND A BLAIN y 1965 E. E. MESSMERETAL 3,193,430

AUTOMATIC LABELING APPARATUS 7 Filed April 11. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR.S EDWIN E. MESSMER BY NORMAND A. BLAIN y 1965 E. E. MESSMERETAL 3,

AUTOMATIC LABELING APPARATUS Filed April 11. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I g'L R4-l RS-l A m R INVENTORS m] EDWIN E. MESSMER S2 NORMAND A. BLAIN3,193,430 AUTUMATIC LABELING APPARATUS Edwin E. Messrner, RoslynHeights, and Normand A.

Biain, Uniondale, N.Y., assignors to Amsco Packaging Machinery, Ind,Long Island City, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 11, 1969,Ser. No. 21,438 10 Claims. (Cl. 156--355) This invention relatesgenerally to labeling apparatus, and has particular reference to alabel-applying or ticketing apparatus capable of rapidly applying anadhesivecoated label or ticket to each of a succesion of articles.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a ticketing orlabeling device which is thoroughly practical in nature and capable ofhigh speed automatic operation in feeding and applying labels to aseries of articles.

It is a more particular objective to provide a labeling apparatus whichmay be inexpensively manufactured and installed, whose operation issimple and reliable, and which may be readily adapted for a variety ofpurposes.

The present apparatus is admirably adapted for use as a part of anintegrated mechanism for packaging merchandise in a container, sealingthe container, and applying a ticket or label to it. It is understood,however, that the apparatus is by no means limited to such use.

Among the special features of the invention are: an improved arrangementof parts whereby a label supply in the form of a continuous ribbon canbe conveniently employed; an applicator of novel character adapted toengage the endmost label on the supply ribbon, separate it from thesupply, and apply it to an article; automatically controllable means forcoordinating the operations, at unusually high speeds of the applicator,and of a means for intermittently advancing the ribbon supply; and anarrangement of the elements in such a way that the entire operation maybe coordinated with the advancing movements of articles being broughtsuccessively to the labeling station. Advantageously the article advancemay be on a conveyor, and the conveyor may be one which forms part of aconventional packaging machine. For example, plastic bags newly filledwith merchandise may be transported directly to the improved ticketingapparatus.

Toward this end, the present apparatus comprises generally a conveyorfor carrying the articles past a label-applying station, a supply oflabels in the form of a contin- United States Patent uous ribbon ofseparable sequentially arranged labels, and

a means for intermittently advancing the labels in order to bring themone at a time into cooperative relation with a label applicator locatedat the labeling station. In addition, there is preferably a triggeringdevice located in the path of movement of the articles as they approachthe labeler which detects the approach of an article and in responsethereto activates a means for actuating the applicator. After theapplicator returns to its normal position, another label isautomatically brought to the labeling station in readiness forapplication to the next article.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a labeling apparatuswhich is adjustable so that the label may be placed at any desiredlocation on the article.

It is still another object to provide an apparatus wherein the labelsthemselves control the advance of the label ribbon to the labelingstation.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus whereinthe label applicator is adapted to posi- 3,193,430 Patented July 6, 1965tively grasp each label and apply it with positive pressure to thearticle.

The invention is not necessarily restricted to completely automaticopera-tion. Novel features of the label ribbon advancing and controlmeans, and of the label applicator and its mode of operation, areindependently useful.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a label or ticket applying apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present inven tion;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the apparatus taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

F FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 5 is a viewsimilar to FIG. 4 showing the label advancing means;

FIG. 6 is a view of the label advancing means taken on line 66 of FIG.5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of a ribbon of labels shown on an enlargedscale;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an individual label taken on line 99of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the labelapplicator;

FIG. 10a is a front elevational view of an alternate embodiment of thelabel applicator;

FIG. 11 shows a container after it has been ticketed by the presentapparatus;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 12--12 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic showing of the electrical circuits which controlthe operation of the present apparatus.

While the apparatus is capable of operating on many varied types ofarticles or packages, one type with which it may be used is a containermade of heat scalable material, such as the bag 15 shown in FIG. 11. Thecontainer 15, or any other article to be labeled, is placed on aconveyor 16 (see FIGS. 1 and 3-5) and as the conveyor moves it past thelabel-applying apparatus, referred to generally by the reference numeral17, a label 18, which may have a pressure-sensitive adhesive on itsunderside, is applied to the container. In the embodiment of theinvention chosen for illustration, the apparatus includes a base orplatform 19 which overhangs the conveyor 16 in cantilever fashion. Theplatform is preferably metallic so that it conducts heat and may serveas an electrical ground. At its forward end, the platform 19 is providedwith a sharp ledge 20 (FIG. 12). The upper surface of platform 19 isprovided with a guide channel which accommodates a supply ribbon 18a oflabels 18, and guides the ribbon lengthwise along the upper surface ofthe platform. The guide channel is formed by two side members 23,slidable transversely with respect to the platform, and adjustabletoward and away from each other depending upon the width of the labelsbeing used. Adjustment of the side members can be effected by means ofthe studs 24, each of which is, at one end, threaded into its associatedside member 23, and near its other end, slidably supported in abracket-25 mounted on the platform 19. Once the side members 23 areadjusted to the proper spacing, the set screws 26 in the brackets 25 aretightened upon the studs 24 in order to maintain the side members "instationary condition with respect to the platform 19.

Located between the side members 23 is a plate 26 i which presses uponthe label ribbon 18a under the force which extends over the platform 19from a bracket 31 v mounted on the edge of the platform. As may be seenin FIGS; 8 and 9, thecontinuous ribbo 18.; comprises labels 18 separablyconnected end-to-end along the lines 32. The labels are all pro-printedwith desired information, and in addition, each label is preferablyprovided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. coating on its underside,and a continuous ribbon of .facing material 18b is separably adhered tothe underside of the ribbon. The facing material is, of course, pulledfrom the labels before the latter are appliedto the articles. Note alsothat the two-ply ribbon comprising the label ribbon 18a and the facingribbon 18b is provided with a series of notches 33 along each side, onenotch of each series being located between each of the labels. Thepurpose of these notches isto facilitate separation of the individuallabels, and also to afford a means for automatic electric control ofribbon advance. 1

Located directly forward of the platform 19 is a label applicator 34. Asmay be seen clearly in FIG. 10 the applicator comprises a pair ofsuperposed label-grasping fingers 35 and 36. These fingers are elongatedin adirec tion parallel to the forward edge 20 of the platform 19 andare mounted with their label-grasping ends facing in the direction ofmovement of the conveyor'llfi, The upper finger 35 is rigid in nature,While the lower finger 36 ispreferably fabricated of spring material. Incertain situations, however, it may be advantageous to form the upperfinger 35, as well as the lower finger 36, of spring material. Inaddition, the lowerfinger'is provided with an abutment member39'pr0jecting transversely therefrom. I

The fingers 35 and 36 arepivotable as a unit'to swing the label-graspingends between a;?raised label-receiving position and a depressedlabel-applying position. The fingers are fastened together at one end oftheapplicator 34 so that normally the free end of the finger 36 contactsthe lower surface of the finger 35. However, in the normal positiorrofthe applicator 34, the finger 35 is arranged at a level above the ledge20, whereas the abutment member 39 contacts the underside of theledgeltl (see FIG. 12) and prevents the finger 36 from rising above theledge. Consequently, the finger 36 is bent downwardly 4 on the armatureof a rotary solenoid 47 which is fixed to the platform 19 by means ofthe bracket 46. When the solenoid 47 is energized, the motion of itsarmature is transmitted by means of the gearing43 and 44, and the shaft41, to the label applicator 34 in order to swing the latter downwardly.in an arcuate path about the axis of the shaft 41. In some situations,it may be desirable to mount the fixture 4b and applicator 34a on theshaft 41 below the axis of the latter, as in FIG. 10a, rather than abovethe axis, as in FIG. 10. In the alternative embodiment of FIG; '10s, theupper finger 35a as well as the lower finger 36a, is fabricated fromspring material, and the'end of the finger 35a is not turned upwardly asis the end of the finger 35.

The advance of the label ribbon 18a along the Platform 19 toward thelabeling station is effected by means of the rollers 48 and 49 (seeFIGS. 5 and 6), in cooperation with the facing ribbon 13b. The rollersare arranged be hind the platform 19 with their bite below the level ofthe platform. While the label ribbon 18a is on the upper surface of theplatform 19 it adheres to the facing ribbon 181'). However, when the tworibbons reach the ledge 20 at the forward end of the platform 19, thefacing ribrollers are given intermittent rotary movement, the labels 18will be advanced one-by-one past the ledge 20 of the platform 19, andbetween the fingers 35 and 36 of the label applicator.

Intermittent movement of therollers 48 and 49 is provided by meansof amagnetic clutch and brake, 51 and 52, respectively, which cooperate tocontrol the action of the rollers. When a label is to be advanced, theclutch is engaged and the brake is released. When the endmost label ofthe ribbon 18a is located between the fingers of the applicator 34, theclutch is disengaged and the brake applied to arrest theadvance of thelabel ribbon. The manner in which the clutch 51 and the brake 52 arecontrolled will be described below with reference to the electricalcircuits of FIG. 13. 7

An element of the electrical circuits which control the operation of thepresent apparatus is the electrically conductive wire finger 55 (FIGS.1, 3-5, and 7). The finger 55 is mounted on. the insulated block whichis fixed to one of the side members 23. While the label ribbon 18a is instationary position, the free end of the finger away from the finger 35when the applicator is in its normal position. As a result of the spacedrelation of the fingers, the endmost label 18 of the ribbon 18a ispermitted to be advanced between the fingers of the applicator. When theapplicator 34 is actuated, by means to be described below, the upperfinger swings downwardly against the lower finger thus positivelygrasping the label between them, and upon further downward movement ofboth fingers, the grasped label is separated from the remainder of theribbon along one of the lines of separation 32 and applied to thecontainer moving belowf It will be noticed that the upper finger islonger than the lower finger, so that it almost completely covers thelabel between the fingers, and in addition, the endmost portion of theupper finger is turned upwardly. In this way, after 55 is permitted tocontact the upper. surface of the platform 19 through one of the notches33 thus forming a ground connection. As soon as the label ribbon beginsthe label contacts the container, and the latter continues.

to move past the applicator, the upturned end of the upper fingerpresses the entire label against the container, thus insuring that allof the adhesivematerial onthe back of the label contacts the containerand secures the label firmly to it. a

The fingers 35 and 36 are mounted attheir interconnected end on afixture 40, which is in turn mounted on the end of an -oscillatable.shaft 41. The. shaft 41 is rotatably mounted in the brackets 42, whichare themselves mounted on the platform 19, and the shaftis provided witha gear 43 at its free end. Arranged in meshing arrangement with the gear43 is a gear44 mounted to move, however, a label moves between thefinger 55 and the platform 19 and'breaks the ground connection betweenthe finger and the platform. When the finger 55 once again contacts theplatform 19, i.e., when the succeeding notch 33 registers with the endof the finger, the latter serves to halt the advance of thelabels bydisengaging the clutchSl and applying the brake 52.

In operation, an article, such as the bag 15, is moved along by theconveyor 16 in a leftward direction in FIGS. 1 and 3. Along its path ofmovement as it approaches the labeling station there is an electric eye56 or its equivalent, adapted to trigger the operation of the apparatusas the bag 15 passes, so that by the time the article reaches a positionbelow the left end of the label applicator 34 the solenoid 47 isactuated and the applicator swings downwardly to apply a label to thepackage- The article then continues along the conveyor to a deliverystation. Upon the return of the label applicator 34 to its normalposition, the clutch 51 and the brake 52 are actuated to etfect theadvance of a new label 18 between the fingers 35 and 36 of the labelapplicator by means of the rollers 48 and 49.- Once this occurs, theclutch and brake'are actuated again to stop the feeding of labels. Theapparatus is now prepared for the approach of a succeeding article,whereupon the labeling operation is repeated.

The conveyor 16 may be one which leads from a packaging apparatus. Forexample, the bag shown at 15 may be a newly filled plastic containerwhich has just been con veyed by the element 16 past a filling stationand a sealing station (not shown). However, such a close associationwith a packaging apparatus is not essential, and so far as the presentinvention is concerned the articles 15 may be laid onto the conveyor 16by hand, or otherwise.

Electric circuits for operating the apparatus may be seen by referringto FIG. 13. The circuits are shown in a straight or across-the-line formin which the contacts of a relay are shown separated from the relay coilwhich operates them and arranged in the circuit in a straight linebetween parallel lines W1 and W2 representing the power source.

In the across-the-line diagram, the relays R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 willbe found. Throughout the description which follows, these letters willbe applied to the coils of the relays, and with reference numeralsappended thereto, they will be applied to the contacts of these relays.The relay contacts are shown in de-energized condition.

In addition to the above-mentioned relays, FIG. 13 also includes thecontacts EE1 controlled by the electric eye 56, the applicator solenoid47, the magnetic clutch 51, the magnetic brake 52, and the contactfinger 55. Furthermore, eight electronic tubes T T are involved, as wellas three timer circuits, RC1, RC2 and RC3; RC1 being a variable timer.

Because the contacts R11 and R21 are normally open, there is no chargeon the grid of tube T3 when power (e.g., 110 volts A.C.) is firstapplied to the circuits. Hence the tube T3 is conductive. Theconductivity of tube T3 allows a charge to be applied to the grid oftube T2 whereby the latter becomes non-conductive. At the same time,since contacts RZ-Z and R3-1 are normally closed, the application ofpower applies a charge to the grids of tubes T5 and T7 whereby each ofthese is momentarily non-conductive. However, after a short time,determined by their respective timing circuits RC2 and RC3, they toobecome conducting thus charging the grids of the tubes T4 and T6respectively whereby the latter tubes are maintained in non-conductingcondition. Furthermore, since the tube T8 is normally conducting whenits grid is grounded, a circuit is immediately completed to energize therelay R5 whereupon the contacts R5-1 open, in order to de-energize themagnetic clutch 51, and the contacts R5-2 close, in order to energizethe magnetic brake 52. The label supply 13;: is thus in stationarycondition.

When an article passes the electric eye 56, the contacts EE-l close thuspermitting the tube T1 to fire and energize the relay R1. As a result,the contacts Rl-l close thus charging the grid of the tube T3 throughthe variable timer RC1, thus making the tube T3 non-conducting.Consequently, the tube T2 becomes conducting and results in theenergization of the relay coil R2. The contacts RZ-l then close to makethe circuit self-holding, since the contacts R11 open as soon as thearticle passes the electric eye. In addition, the contacts R2-2 open,but this has no effect since tube T5 is already conducting and remainsso, and the tube T4 therefore remains non-conducting.

After a time determined by the variable timer RC1 the tube T3 becomesconducting once again, thus making the tube T2 non-conducting, andde-energizing the relay coil R2. The contacts R22 then close thuscharging the grid of the tube T5 making the latter non-conducting, hencethe tube T4 becomes conducting and the relay R3 is energized. At thispoint, the contacts R31 open, but this has no effect since the tube T7remains conducting and the tube T6 non-conducting. Also, the contactsR3- 2 close, thus energizing the solenoid 47 whereupon the labelapplicator 34 is actuated and a label is applied to the package. It maybe seen, therefore, that the time 6 interval between the time that thearticle passes the electric eye and the time that the label applicatoris actuated depends upon the adjustment of the variable timer RC1.Merely by varying the time RC1, therefore, the location on the articleat which the label is placed may be varied in the direction of movementof the article.

After a period of time determined by the timer RC2, the tube T5 becomesconducting once again, whereupon the tube T4 becomes non-conducting andthe relay coil R3 is de-energized. The solenoid 47 is thereforedeenergized permitting the label applicator 34 to return to its normalposition. The contacts R31 then close once again, thus charging the gridof the tube T7 which immediately becomes non-conducting, and the relayR4 is energized. The capacitor C1 provides a time delay to insure thatthe label applicator has returned to its normal position before therelay R4 is energized. Energization of the relay coil R4 causes thecontacts R4-1 to open thus breaking the circuit for energizing the relaycoil R5. As a result, the contacts R5-1 close to energize the clutch 51,and the contacts R5-2 open to disengage the brake 52, whereupon therollers 48 and 49 are rotated and the label ribbon 18a begins toadvance.

After a short period of time, determined by the timer circuit RC3, thetube T7 becomes conducting once again, whereupon the tube T6 becomesnon-conducting and the relay R4 is de-energized thus causing thecontacts R4-1 to close. The relay R5 is not however immediatelydeenergized since there is a label between the finger 55 and theplatform 19. However, when one of the notches 33 once again registerswith the contact 55, the grid of the tube T8 is again grounded,whereupon the tube T8 becomes c'onducting and a circuit is completed toenergize the relay R5, thus de-energizing the clutch 51 and energizingthe brake 52 to arrest the feeding of labels.

If desired, an additional circuit (not shown) may be included having adevice for heating the platform 19, so that as the label and facingribbons 18a and 1811- move along the platform, the adhesive on thelabels 18 will become softened and facilitate the separation of thelabels from the facing.

The invention has been shown and described in preferred form only and byway of example, but many varia-' tions and modifications may be madetherein and in its mode of application which will still be comprisedwithin its spirit. It is understood, therefore, that the invention isnot limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as suchlimitations are specified in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for applying labels to containers, a conveyor foradvancing successive containers to and past a labeling station, a labelsupply in the form of a continuous ribbon comprising labels separablyarranged end to end, means for intermittently advancing said ribbon tobring the endmost label to the labeling station, an applicator mountedin a normal rest position and movable to engage said endmost label andapply it to a container moving through the labeling station, saidapplicator comprising a pair of superposed fingers spaced apart whensaid applicator is in its normal rest position whereby .the endmostlabel may be advanced between them and said fingers coming together uponbeing moved into engagement with said label so as to grasp the latterbetween them, activatable means for moving said applicator, and controlmeans responsive to the movement of containers past it for activatingsaid activatable means only when a container is in a label-receptiveposition.

2. In an apparatus for applying labels to containers, the elementsdefined in claim 1 including time delay means for delaying the reactionof said activatable means to the operation of said control means inorder to provide sufficient time for said containers to move from saidcontr-ol means to said labeling station before said applicator is movedinto label-applying position, said time delay platform, means forintermittentlyadvancing the ribbon to bring the endmost label beyondsaid forward edge, a conveyor mounted for movement beneath said platformin a direction transverse to the direction of label advancement, saidconveyor being adapted to bring successive articles to a label-receivingposition beneath said platform edge, an applicator mounted adjacent tosaid edgeand comprising label-engaging fingers substantially parallel tosaid edge, one of said fingers being longer than the other and normallylying above the level of said platform and the other normally lyingbelow said level whereby the advancement of said ribbon brings theendmost label into a position between said fingers, electricallyoperable means for moving saidupper finger toward said conveyor so. thatthe endmost label is grasped and applied to an article,

tion beneath said platform edge, a label applicator adjacent to saidedge and comprising a pair of label-grasping fingers positioned toreceive labels in succession as they are advanced, said fingersbeingelongated in 'a direction parallel to said platform edge with theirlabel-grasping ends facing in the'direction of conveyor movement, saidfingers being pivotable as a unit to swing the label-grasping endsbetween a raised label-receiving position and a for obstructing thereturn movement of the lower finger and. anelectric eye responsive tothe movementof articles,

on said conveyor for activating said electrically operable means.

4. In an apparatus for applying labels to articles, the elements definedinclaim 3 including an electrical circuit, said electrically operablemeans and said electlic eye being arranged in said circuit, and timedelay means in said circuit for delaying the activation of saidelectrically 0perable means after said electric eye responds to articlemovement. j 5. In an apparatus for applying labels, the elements definedin claim 4, including means for adjusting said time delay means to alterthe magnitude of said delay.

6. In an apparatus for. applying labels to. articles, a label supply inthe form of a strip of sequentially'arranged labels, a platform having aforward edge, means for intermittently advancing said strip along saidplatform in a direction at right angles to saidedge so as to advancelabels successively to and beyond said edge, an article conveyoradjacent to said platform edge and mounted for movement in a directiontransverse to the direction of advance of said labels, said conveyorbeing adapted to bring successive articles to and past a label-receivingposias the applicator returns to the label-receiving position, therebyeffecting a separation of the fingers into a labelreceiving condition.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, in which said obstructing meanscomprises a projecting ledge at said platform edge and a lateralprojection on the lower finger adapted to encounter said ledge duringthe return swing of the applicator.

It). An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for pivotingthe applicator comprises an oscillatable shaft to which the fingers areattached at the ends opposite the label-grasping ends, and means foroscillating said shaft on its axis:

I References Cited by the Examiner I UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/43 Caldwell156-366 2,654,496 10/43 Meyer et al. 21653 X 2,920,780 1/60 Hauschild eta1. 216-9 2,939,599

6/60 Sch1uter 2169 OTHER REFERENCES Modern Packaging, pg. 163, May 1958.

EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

ALEXANDER WYMAN, GEO. A. NINAS, 1a.,

' Examiners.

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LABELS TO CONTAINERS, A CONVEYOR FORADVANCING SUCCESSIVE CONTAINERS TO AND PAST A LABELING STATION, A LABELSUPPLY IN THE FORM OF A CONTINUOUS RIBBON COMPRISING LABELS SEPARABLYARRANGED END TO END, MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ADVANCING SAID RIBBON TOBRING THE ENDMOST LABEL TO THE LABELING STATION, AN APPLICATOR MOUNTEDIN A NORMAL REST POSITION AND MOVABLE TO ENGAGE SAID ENDMOST LABEL ANDAPPLY IT TO A CONTAINER MOVING THROUGH THE LABELING STATION, SAIDAPPLICATOR COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUPERPOSED FINGERS SPACED APART WHENSAID APPLICATOR IS IN ITS NORMAL REST POSITION WHEREBY THE ENDMOST LABELMAY BE ADVANCED BETWEEN THEM AND SAID FINGERS COMING TOGETHER UPON BEINGMOVED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LABEL SO AS TO GRASP THE LATTER BETWEENTHEM, ACTIVATABLE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID APPLICATOR, AND CONTROL MEANSRESPONSIVE TO THE MOVEMENT OF CONTAINERS PAST IT FOR ACTIVATING SAIDACTIVATABLE MEANS ONLY WHEN A CONTAINER IS IN A LABEL-RECEPTIVEPOSITION.